Chicken Salad Chick ramping up expansion in 2022

CSA

Chicken Salad Chick is on a roll. . . . more

Walgreens cites vaccinations, carbon in sustainability report

CSA

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. is highlighting its work in health and vaccine equity, while also focusing on issues such as carbon reduction and recycling. . . . more

Foot Locker shifting vendor mix: less Nike, more DTC; opening more off-mall stores

CSA

Foot Locker expects its revenue to fall this year as it expects it will no longer be able to sell as many products from its top vendor, Nike. . . . more

Canadian seafood chain expands to U.S. with enterprise platform

CSA

The Captain’s Boil is supporting franchise growth in the U.S. with a full suite of front- and back-end solutions. . . . more

Noodles & Company Powers through COVID Pitfalls

QSR

After a promising 2021, Noodles & Company has its eyes set on expanding its footprint and digital presence, while also sprinkling in new menu items to sustain growth. . . . more

Papa Johns claims bigger slice of pizza category, thanks to substantial unit growth and menu innovation

NRN
Papa Johns International, Inc.’s growth spree continues in the fourth quarter of 2021, with same-store sales up 11.1% in North America, on top of an accelerated development pace, CEO Rob Lynch said during Thursday’s earnings call for the quarter and full fiscal year ended Dec. 26, 2021. . . . more

Pet Supplies Plus Acquires Wag N’ Wash Natural Pet Food & Grooming

Franchising.com
Pet Supplies Plus, (“PSP” or the “Company”) announced today it has acquired Wag N’ Wash, an emerging natural pet food, self-wash, and grooming franchise with over 15 locations. . . . more

U.S. Postal Service targets small businesses with same-day delivery

CSA

The U.S. Postal Service is launching a set of four new fast delivery solutions, including one specifically aimed at local businesses. . . . more

GNC hears the customer’s voice – with help from Amazon

CSA

GNC Holdings Inc. is making it easier for customers to order from their homes. . . . more

Macy’s Q4 earnings, sales beat estimates; won’t spin off e-commerce business

CSA

An upbeat Macy’s reported a strong end to a solid year and said it is accelerating its turnaround plans, including the expansion of its off-mall, smaller format stores. . . . more

Hundreds of rodents found inside Family Dollar facility

ABC News
More than 1,000 rodents were found inside a Family Dollar distribution facility in Arkansas, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday as the chain issued a voluntary recall affecting items purchased from hundreds of stores in the South. . . . more

Wakefield Mainstay Smith's Drug Store Sold

Patch
Smith's Drug Store, the family-owned pharmacy that has been part of the community for over a century, has been acquired by Waltham-based pharmacy Pelmeds, it was announced Tuesday. . . . more

Bob’s Discount sets long-term plan that envisions national footprint

Furniture Retailer
With plans for 16 store openings this year and a strategy to be a best-in-class omnichannel furniture environment, Bob’s Discount Furniture is laying the foundation for a strong national presence. . . . more

Inflation Alert: McDonald’s Big Mac Is Outpacing Cost of Living, Price up 40%

Yahoo! Finance
The price of a McDonald’s Big Mac burger has risen 40% over the last 10 years, CNBC reported, and because its price incorporates many economic factors, many believe this popular fast food item is one way to understand current inflation rates and purchasing power of the U.S. dollar. . . . more

Should more retailers be on Roblox?

Retail Dive

If you haven't heard of Roblox, ask your 10-year-old to explain it. . . . more

Walmart to carry new Gen Z-focused Bonobos line

Retail Dive
Bonobos on Friday announced the launch of a new men's line, Bonobos Fielder, according to information sent to Retail Dive. . . . more

Five Below to open flagship in Times Square’s E*Walk

CSA

The tenant lineup for the renovated E*Walk in Manhattan’s Times Square is filling up. . . . more

At Home celebrates multiple store openings

CSA

At Home Group is having a busy February. . . . more

Study finds impulse purchases on the decline

CSA

The pandemic continues to drive new consumer behaviors. . . . more

KeyPoint Partners Negotiates O’Reilly Lease In Plaistow, NH

Boston Real Estate Times
KeyPoint Partners negotiated a lease with O’Reilly Auto Parts at Plaistow Place, Plaistow, New Hampshire. . . . more

Small businesses incorporating new technology to survive the coronavirus pandemic

Fox Business

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated many small and medium-sized businesses across America over the last two years, but many who have survived have come out stronger on the other side with new technologies and streamlined operations. . . . more

Retail sales rise faster than expected in January despite surging inflation

Fox Business

U.S. consumers accelerated their retail spending in January as COVID-19 cases eased nationwide, even as they confronted the hottest inflation in four decades. . . . more

The Container Store to launch mobile app, loyalty program

Retail Dive
Continuing to improve its digital offerings, The Container Store plans to launch a tier-based loyalty program at the end of March and a mobile app sometime this spring, said Satish Malhotra, CEO of The Container Store, during a Q3 earnings call on Feb. 8. . . . more

Assembly Row adds five tenants to its F&B menu

CSA

Assembly Row, the first-class downtown that Federal retail built en masse in the Boston suburb of Somerville, is making big additions to its restaurant contingent. . . . more

Sam’s Club offering $8 membership promotion

CSA

Sam’s Club is celebrating its ad debut in the Super Bowl with a limited-time membership deal. . . . more

Walgreens expands electric vehicle charging with promotional twist

CSA

A retail pioneer in providing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its stores is adding new stalls across the U.S., and gaining a new promotional tool in the process. . . . more

Kohl’s adding 400 in-store Sephora shops this year

CSA

The rollout of in-store Sephora shops at Kohl’s is accelerating this year. . . . more

Chipotle's menu prices are about 10% higher than last year, and still climbing

Restaurant Dive
Chipotle's menu prices are roughly 10% higher overall compared with 2020's prices, the burrito chain confirmed during its Q4 2021 earnings call on Tuesday. . . . more

DoorDash will give cash advances to small businesses

Restaurant Dive
DoorDash on Wednesday launched a new service, called DoorDash Capital, which provides cash advances to partner restaurants and other small businesses. . . . more

Toasted Yolk Proves Breakfast is Already Back

FSR Magazine

For most of the restaurant industry, the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” still seems far out of reach. . . . more

CVS to spend up to $3B on digital features

Retail Dive
Building on its previous tech advancements, CVS plans to spend up to $3 billion on "digital enhancements to improve the consumer experience as well as our community locations," Shawn Guertin, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said during a Q4 earnings call Wednesday. . . . more

Urban Outfitters names new president; posts record Q4 sales

CSA

Urban Outfitters ended the year with record sales and a new leader for its namesake brand. . . . more

Under Armour rebound continues; shifting fiscal year

CSA
Under Armour’s turnaround maintained momentum quarter as the activewear brand reported fourth-quarter sales and earnings that beat estimates. But supply chain concerns weighed on its outlook. . . more

Roche Bros. Quincy Location Closing In April After 26 Years Of Operation

CBS Boston
Roche Bros., the Mansfield-based supermarket chain, is closing down its Quincy location in April. . . . more

Dogtopia Wraps 2021 with Strong Year of Growth

Franchising.com
Dogtopia is excited about 2022 after another year of great success in 2021. . . . more

Fat Brands' CEO on developing supply chain, labor strategies for the Super Bowl

Restaurant Dive

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sales days of the year for Fat Brands, which offers chicken wings — a menu item synonymous with the big game — at seven of its 17 restaurant franchises. . . . more

Christmas Tree Shops achieves independence with new enterprise system

CSA

Christmas Tree Shops is completing its separation from Bed Bath & Beyond by migrating technology operations to a hybrid cloud platform. . . . more

AMC Theatres makes hire to take its Perfectly Popcorn to retail

CSA

Cinema chains continue to be the retail center tenants hardest hit by the pandemic, and that’s led one to get into the retail business. . . . more

Save A Lot completes transition to wholesale model

CSA

Save A Lot has completed a transition that it said will position the company for growth. . . . more

Little Caesars plots more store expansion in 2022

CSA

Little Caesars has ambitious plans to continue expanding its global footprint. . . . more

Hobby Lobby to open its first store in NYC

CSA

One of the country's largest arts-and-crafts retailer had drawn a circle around the United States’ largest market but never entered it. Now it will. . . . more

Saugus Likes What It Sees At Kowloon

Item Live
Chair Anthony Cogliano said the Board of Selectmen’s site visit at Kowloon Restaurant this past Saturday went well. . . . more

J.C. Penney launches new menswear brand

CSA

J.C. Penney is adding to its private-label portfolio. . . . more

Apple empowers businesses to accept contactless payments through Tap to Pay on iPhone

Apple
Apple today announced plans to introduce Tap to Pay on iPhone. . . . more

Fogo de Chao plans to grow restaurant count by 15% in 2022

Restaurant Duive
Fogo de Chao plans to grow its system by 15% this year, with company-owned locations in the U.S. and international franchise restaurants. . . . more

Aldi to open 150 stores and new DC

CSA

Aldi is targeting the Gulf Coast as its aggressive expansion continues. . . . more

Giant Fenway project undergoes a few changes — and gets a new name

BBJ
The 2-million-square-foot Fenway project now has two smaller buildings, less retail space and a new project name. . . . more

COVID-19 tests are now being sold at liquor stores – and that’s a concern for some

Seacoast Online
With the omicron variant persisting and at-home rapid COVID-19 tests in short supply, the state opened access Friday to 500,000 tests thanks to $12 million in federal pandemic money. . . . more

After Signing Over 30 Franchise Agreements in 2021, Workout Anytime Sets Sights On Even More Growth in 2022

Plain Vanilla Shell
Workout Anytime, a 180-plus unit leader in the fitness franchise industry, continued to provide results-based services in local communities for a great value in 2021 by signing more than 30 franchise agreements. . . . more

Jimmy John’s opens its first-ever drive-thru only site

CSA

Customers can’t dine in at Jimmy John’s new restaurant concept. . . . more

Colliers: Store openings on pace to surpass closures; vacancy rates down

CSA

Houston ranked as the top metro area for retail space (by square feet) under construction (as of the start of 2021). . . . more

Wingstop opens digital-focused prototype with no seating

Restaurant Dive
Wingstop is opening a cashless, digital-focused prototype in Dallas that will serve as an innovation lab to test new equipment and restaurant configurations, the chain announced Thursday. . . . more

Adidas to hire more than 2,800 employees in 2022

Retail Dive
As Reebok cuts staff ahead of its acquisition, parent company Adidas this week announced it would hire more than 2,800 employees in 2022. . . more

Amazon hikes Prime membership by $20 to $139

Retail Dive
Citing the expansion of member benefits and rising labor and transportation costs, Amazon on Thursday said the annual price of its Prime membership will rise from $119 to $139 as of Feb. 18, the first hike since 2018. . . more

GameStop makes NFT marketplace plans official

CSA
After a month of industry speculation, GameStop is confirming its intention to launch a digital marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs). . . more

Big Lots, Five Below and Dollar General lead sector foot traffic in Q4

CSA

Overall foot traffic remained rock-solid in the fourth quarter for a very important sector of retail. . . . more

Simon launches ghost kitchen offering

CSA

The nation’s largest owner of shopping malls is the latest retail entity to enter the ghost kitchen space. . . . more

2021’s New Normal vs. 2019’s Old Normal in retail

CSA
Brick-and-mortar retail has long been an industry that is defined by survival of the differentiated. What can be commoditized, de-localized, or digitized likely will be. We’ve all watched category after category get Amazon’d and relegated to the dustbin of history. (Blockbuster Video, anyone?) . . . more

Prepare to pay more: Starbucks is planning even more price hikes this year

WCVB

Starbucks has been hiking prices as inflation soars and labor costs rise. And it's planning more this year. . . . more

‘Camp’ Toy Store Opening At Burlington Mall, Featuring ‘Paw Patrol’ Experience

CBS Boston
Winter break for schools is just around the corner, and for weary parents that means a scramble to find activities for their kids. A new spot at the Burlington Mall opening Thursday could help fill the void. . . . more

RECon will re-emerge as ICSC 2022 Las Vegas

CSA

RECon’s back in Vegas this May…well, sort of. . . . more

Vitamin Shoppe opens its first-ever franchise store

CSA

The Vitamin Shoppe has embarked on the next chapter of its growth. . . . more

Panera launches mobile order-ahead — for dining-in

CSA

Panera Bread is now enabling customers to order via their own devices for plated dine-in service. . . . more

Petco partners to offer pet sitting, dog walking and other services

CSA

Petco Health and Wellness Company is partnering to offer an expanded lineup of pet services. . . . more

PGA Tour Superstore expanding into new markets in 2022

CSA

PGA Tour Superstore is growing its store footprint on the heels of strong sales growth in 2021 and growing momentum in golf across a diverse range of consumers. . . . more

Lowe’s introduces loyalty program for home improvement professionals

CSA

Lowe's Cos. is attempting to deepen its relationship with customers who work in the home improvement industry. . . . more

Walmart unveils new, upgraded store design

CSA

Walmart is looking to put the “wow” in its stores. . . . more

Sola Salons Marks Unprecedented Growth In 2021 With 600th Location Opening

PR Newswire
Sola Salons, the world's largest and fastest growing salon studios franchise, announced today its 600th location worldwide - marking the brand's 17th location in Wisconsin. . . . more

Valentine’s Day spending to be second highest on record

CSA

Consumers are looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a big way — particularly when it comes to jewelry. . . . more

Chicken Salad Chick to open more than 50 locations in 2022

CSA
All signs point to a strong year ahead for Chicken Salad Chick. . . . more

UMass Lowell to redevelop East Campus area as mixed-use urban district

Lowell Sun
UMass Lowell is accepting proposals for a mixed-use transformation of its East Campus into a vibrant and active urban district. . . . more

Dunkin’ giving away free coffee on Wednesdays in February

WHDH
Dunkin’ says it plans to give away free coffee to its loyal customers during the month of February. . . . more

Domino’s will pay you $3 to not get your pizza delivered

WHDH
Facing a shortage of workers, Domino’s Pizza is hoping to incentivize its customers to choose carryout over delivery. . . . more